Archive for April, 2018

Drove to and fro Spokane this weekend. Mostly, MyBetterHalf drives, and thus has her phone to provide music. I drove the small car (MyBetterHalf left earlier with MrG and MsS) with MrC there, and drove solo back. The solo drive, is actually the first time I have driven across the state by myself. It was nice. I controlled the radio. I controlled the rest stops (staring at the Columbia before Vantage, two fruit stands, the Historic Thorp Mill, Blue Heron Park at Moses Lake) . A little R&R!!

speaking of radio, in the middle of the state. On the plus side, there weren’t too many commercials or dumb DJs trying to be funny. On the other hand, there was preaching, there was country music, there was Spanish radio, there was Spanish-preaching…. I heard a nice bit of a sermon, twice. Female pastor, “I was in the store with my young children and someone asked “are they all yours” and I thought “Who brings extra toddlers to the store??!!??” Her sermon was about when we choose entertainment, we are choosing not something else, uh…more time spent with kids. (Also, these days, everyone has their own entertainment, and don’t have a common time together – ESPN can vouch for that!) Heard a sermon about Jonah: God still had a plan for Jonah, a plan delayed is not a plan denied. And talent isn’t most important, obedience is. Heard a Catholic apologist (weird, I thought only protestants did that), his interpretation of baptism of children – Baptism is the new circumcision and faith by one can bring gifts to another (ex: Centurian’s daughter healed). Heard some NPR… segment about disabilities, and how a hundred years ago, many of us with bad vision would be disabled.

…but Song-of-the-Now goes to one that i’ve known for a bit, and I liked, but it got upgraded to Song-of-the-Now because MrCuddles was enthusiastically and loudly singing the chorus: Alice Merton “No Roots”

MyBetterHalf and I watched a bit of the second half. I kept thinking, it’s close, Spurs would be winning if Kawhi Leonard was healthy. Wait for it. And it would be a Warriors blow out if Steph Curry was healthy.

For reference, the childrens had a very important Syrian in their early lives. I hope her family back home is safe. Or out of Syria.

NPR tells me the US has only accepted eleven Syrian refugees this year. We have got to start making the case that accepting refugees makes our country stronger, and safer, and is well worth a tiny monetary investment. Or, just simply say “accepting refugees is the right thing to do.”

So, minute before I left work, I find we are sending missiles and bombs into Syria, in hopes of “degrading” the governments ability to use chemical weapons in the civil war.

MrC – no sports

MsS – gymnastics

MsS got promoted to the next level, unfortunately, her BFF didn’t get promoted. She wanted to quit, but we talked her into going to first one, I was lucky enough to be able to take her to a couple sessions. After her first session, she had fun, recognized a few other kids and even was chatting with them. It was awesome, for the warm up, to see her jogging around the gym with teenagers. So much exercise, and working on one little skill, so they can put it all together perfectly. One night there, I was reading, because I don’t want to stare. (Also, good thing, they keep the parents up and away from the students & coaches. A good thing.) Anyway, I heard a cow bell, looked up, and there was a girl ringing the cow bell on the ceiling, 30 feet up, while hanging from a rope. MsS got her chance to climb the rope. I think she got her body six feet in the air before climbing back down. My daughter is getting stronger, and braver.

Mr G – basketball

Game #1 – January 7. Before the game I was rolling my eyes at the game before us. This competition would be weaker than MrG’s squad he had with CoachRicco & CoachFrank last Winter (and Spring for tournament). How was he supposed to get better (and maybe make the select squad next fall if he was playing weaker competition. Yeah, I’m kinda crazy. One of his classmates, in an effort to get on a select team, is actually playing in two leagues this year. MrG tried out for select basketball, didn’t make it, was told “need to be more aggressive”)? Well, quickly MrG had his finger prints on the game and had a steal and a block within the first two minutes.

Game #2 – January 14. MrG started the game agressive and had the first basket for his team. He was hustling on defense, those things that don’t show up on the stat sheet: slowed down the fast break, hustled back and fouled the shooter to stop the easy shot. He went in for a shot in traffic, had a fast break layup, jumped up and grabbed a rebound. He had a high energy game.

He was upset at the end of the game, time ran out and the ball was in his hands with his team losing by two. He told me he made a mistake on the play they were supposed to run. (He also mentioned a few other mistakes his team made). I told him it was a fun game to watch, and he did alright. I saw most all the ways he filled the stat sheet, but missed MrG blocking the shot of a big kid. (Because, I was chatting with a parent from other team, and she is secretly paying her kid $1 per rebound. “It keeps him involved.”)

Game #3 – January 21st. MrG had a quiet game. I dunno, he didn’t seem into it. I dunno. I think too much aboot these things. He had a sweet looking pass in the key to an open guy under the basket, but his teammate wasn’t ready. Later, he tried the play again, to the same teammate, and it worked. I told MrG – you guys figured it out, and learned something in the game, that’s cool. Note: I try not to talk too much about the game with him, just try to say, “I had fun watching you.” I did ask him, “I saw you give the guy you were guarding a bit of space, and he easily caught the pass, but was out of bounds. You do that on purpose? (“yes” he replied) You’re tricky.”

Game #4 – January 28th. In case you were curious, league rules include “no double team” and “no backcourt defense until fourth quarter”. His team started out strong, led 14-6 at the half…but it ended up going into OT. His coach called out “that was a good look” on a pass he made to a teammate under the basket. MrG picked up a foul – which, kinda I interpret as if you play intense D, you’ll commit a foul or two inadvertently. There was a bit of confusion on defensive assignments, and since you can’t double team, he was a bit frustrated. MrG got a steal, but it was waved off, because it happened in third quarter in backcourt. (I’m still counting it!) Three times he had poked the ball away from the kid his was guarding, that’s good, disrupt the offense. MrG’s first basket of the game was at the start of the OT period, (the crowd cheered) and they ended up winning by two! He grinned after the game, asking if I saw it. Yes, I did. I asked if he heard the crowd cheer, he smiled.

Game #5 – His team was playing catch up the entire game, and got close, but lost. He did have a nice pass in traffic, to a kid that was open in the key, but, wasn’t able to convert. He picked up another foul. He was upset that his coach didn’t put him in for the closing minutes of the game. I told him I think equal playing time is more important than the “W”, he replied, “that’s why I want to play select.”

Game #6 – February 11th. His teammates were passing to him more than usual today, (even got a quick bucket after a nice feed – getting his teammate an assist!). Actually the whole team was better at passing and sharing the ball today. He was point guard for a quarter, and was assigned to defend the other teams’ best player for a quarter. He was close to getting ten points, had an open shot, and passed to a teammate (yup, he thinks like a point guard)…who missed, but MrG grabbed the offense rebound and got quick put-back basket. Ten points! (I noticed…there were times, when a boy would dribble into trouble, and he’s still looking to score, but he has an wide open teammate further from the basket, and then does a crazy pass, or tries to force a shot. Which is funny, because during warm-ups they yell “outlet” for the outlet pass, but during the game, not as much communicating.)

Game #7– Feb 25th. Another fun game, the team is sharing the ball more. MrG blocked the last shot of the game.

Game #8 – March 3rd. MrG was upset after, “my worst game ever” and just wanted to leave quickly. Yeah, he got robbed on a few of his shots that rolled off the rim. But his team was still passing to him, his coach still had him run point guard third quarter, he still played good defense. Little things he did that won’t show up in the stat sheet, MrG couldn’t grab a rebound, but was able to tip the ball to one of his teammates. A dribbler went by him, and MrG was able to knock the ball loose, so that the kid had to fall on it, and then got tied up for a jump ball. (And looking at the silly bracket of stats I’ve made…no, not his worst game of the season.)

Game #9 – March 11th. MrG had a quick score off a pass early in the game. He had some nice hustle plays, hustled down a loose ball, ran back on D to slow down a fast break, caused a kid to lose the ball.

End of season…wait…what… playoffs!?! Darn. It. All.

Playoff game… I showed up for the second half… tie game… but the other team went on to win. MrG had a great 4th quarter… a few passes, four points off of four free throws, a rebound, two steals, chasing down a loose ball, a couple nice passes. He was upset at the end. And now, the season is over.